Tom Hall Taylor [Archive] - Genealogists' Forum

Kit

28-06-11, 00:28

I am trying to solve the mystery of Tom Hall Taylor's wives.

Tom was born in 1834 in Leeds Yorkshire to John and Maria Taylor. John was a brick layer, except on one christening record where he was an inn keeper.

Tom married Elizabeth Siddall in 1856 at St Peters Leeds. Elizabeth is born in Yorkshire in 1836 to Samuel and Alice.

Tom is living with his sisters in 1851. HO107; Piece: 2320; Folio: 342; Page: 18

I assume Elizabeth dies as Tom is unmarried on the 1871 census. RG10; Piece: 4552; Folio: 71; Page: 7

By 1881 Tom has a new wife Elizabeth who was born in Ceylon/Sri Lanka.

I can't find Tom (and maybe Elizabeth) on the 1861, Elizabeth's death nor his remarriage to the new Elizabeth.

Can anyone help?

Merry

28-06-11, 06:24

Hmmm....the children on the 1881 b Knaresborough.....

There are no three birth regs in the same surname (Taylor or otherwise) for Maud(e), Tom and Walter in Knaresborough that I can see.

Ah, on the next census only Maud is b Knaresborough, so back to the drawing board.

Merry

28-06-11, 06:42

I think the clue to unlocking this might be the name Janet as I wonder if the boarder in the house in 1891 is related to Elizabeth from Ceylon. Have to do other things now.........

kiterunner

28-06-11, 07:26

I assume Elizabeth dies as Tom is unmarried on the 1871 census. RG10; Piece: 4552; Folio: 71; Page: 7

If he was a widower, his marital status on the census should be "W" or "Wid", so "Unm" is either a mistake or a lie, meaning we can't assume that his wife had died.

kiterunner

28-06-11, 07:33

kiterunner

28-06-11, 07:37

Maud must surely be Maud Wilson Taylor whose birth was registered Sep 1876 Knaresborough (she has a middle initial W on the 1881 census), so perhaps her mother's maiden name was Wilson.

kiterunner

28-06-11, 07:51

Ah, on the 1881 census there is a Janet Gilles Wilson age 16 born Knaresborough who is a servant at Clifton in York. And her family certainly travelled around a lot, so they could easily have had a daughter born in Ceylon, although not with them in 1871:
Back Lane, Scriven with Tentergate, Yorkshire
John Wilson Head Mar 49 Sergeant of Militia (5th West York) & Chelsea Pensioner Scotland
Elizabeth Do Wife Do 34 Bermuda, West Indies (BS)
James do Son 11 Scholar Jersey, St Helier
Janet Gillies Do Daur 5 Do Yorkshire Knaresbro
Mary Do Do 3 Do Do Do
John Wilson Son 9 mo Do Do
George Loft Lodger Boarder Widr 30 Ironworker Lancashire Liverpool.

kiterunner

28-06-11, 07:54

Elizabeth Wilson is at the Royal Hotel, West Street, Sowerby, Yorkshire, in 1871, servant, unmarried 18, nurse, born "Ceylon, India" (or "Ceyton" according to ancestry's transcription!)

kiterunner

28-06-11, 08:11

Hmm, I'm guessing that the first Elizabeth didn't die before 1881 and Tom didn't marry the second Elizabeth.

Kit

28-06-11, 10:14

If he was a widower, his marital status on the census should be "W" or "Wid", so "Unm" is either a mistake or a lie, meaning we can't assume that his wife had died.

I know it should be Mar or Wid on the census but that doesn't mean he does. I took it to mean that Elizabeth had died and he felt he is no longer married.

Hmm, I'm guessing that the first Elizabeth didn't die before 1881 and Tom didn't marry the second Elizabeth.

I wondered if he didn't marry the second one but you have surprised me on the first one not dying. I wonder where she went?

Merry

28-06-11, 10:21

I agree with Kate - that they were most likely separated in 1871. It's the combination of an incorrect marital status along with no marriage to wife 2 that does it for me, though it would be good to prove.

I found Elizabeth Siddall in 1851 with her mother and step-father and as expected she was listed as b in Leeds in 1837. Pity she wasn't from somewhere a little more obscure! lol

Merry

28-06-11, 10:30

Ah, found Elizabeth 1 in 1861 listed as Taylor and married with her mother Alice and step-father George Bulmer.

RG9; Piece: 3534; Folio: 12; Page: 17

Merry

28-06-11, 10:34

And Eliz 1 is still with her mum and step-dad in 1871

RG10; Piece: 4563; Folio: 20; Page: 34

this time no marital status recorded. She had no occ on 1861 or 1871.

Merry

28-06-11, 10:38

I can't find her in 1881 yet, but I guess Tom probably didn't know if she was dead or alive by this time, so perhaps he was taking no chances when he didn't marry Elizabeth Wilson?

Kit

28-06-11, 11:36

I can't find her on the 1881 either. I think Mum and George have died as I can't find them either.

But then again I can't find their deaths either.

Merry

28-06-11, 11:51

Oh, I found both their deaths easily in Leeds district. There were two possibles for George but I thought the first one (1873??) was the better fit and only one for Alice. I think hers was in 1879, from memory.

Elizabeth's sister, Alice, who was Mrs Cunningham in 1871 doesn't seem to have made an appearance in 1881. She was married 1855/6ish to George Cunningham but I can't find her or George or their son in 1861, and George was missing in 1871 (I didn't notice her occ though, which might say X's wife), so I'm wondering if the Siddall's didn't care for marriage much?

Kit

28-06-11, 11:59

lol Merry. Elizabeth definitely got married, although it didn't last long.

Thanks to you and Kate for all your help today. I'm off to bed now.